
Bernard Shaw
Playwright and Preacher
Leon Hugo(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 24. September 2025
Book
Hardback
268 pages
978-1-041-11536-6 (ISBN)
Description
It was Shaw's general contention that all great art was didactic; it was his specific contention that he wrote plays to convert people to his opinions on 'Social Economy', 'Political Economy' and 'Vital Economy'. In this study of Bernard Shaw's plays, originally published in 1971, Leon Hugo examines the implications of these contentions.
Professor Hugo's book, a lively and enthusiastic reappraisal of the literary and dramatic quality of Shaw's plays, viewed in the light of their relationship to his social and political ideas, will be of value both as an introduction to new readers of Shaw and as a stimulus to the re-examination of many conventional and often dismissive views of his achievement as a dramatic poet.
In the first part of the book, Shaw's Fabian socialism, his political philosophy, and his belief in Creative Evolution are examined. In the second part, the author appraises Shaw's plays by relating them to his ideas and by assessing them as 'literature'. Among the plays discussed at length are: Mrs Warren's Profession, Candida, Caesar and Cleopatra, Man and Superman, Major Barbara, Heartbreak House, and St Joan. In the third part an assessment is made of Shaw's influence as a teacher and dramatist and the author argues that Shaw at his best achieves didactic and aesthetic unity in his plays.
Professor Hugo's book, a lively and enthusiastic reappraisal of the literary and dramatic quality of Shaw's plays, viewed in the light of their relationship to his social and political ideas, will be of value both as an introduction to new readers of Shaw and as a stimulus to the re-examination of many conventional and often dismissive views of his achievement as a dramatic poet.
In the first part of the book, Shaw's Fabian socialism, his political philosophy, and his belief in Creative Evolution are examined. In the second part, the author appraises Shaw's plays by relating them to his ideas and by assessing them as 'literature'. Among the plays discussed at length are: Mrs Warren's Profession, Candida, Caesar and Cleopatra, Man and Superman, Major Barbara, Heartbreak House, and St Joan. In the third part an assessment is made of Shaw's influence as a teacher and dramatist and the author argues that Shaw at his best achieves didactic and aesthetic unity in his plays.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Adult education
Adult education, General, and Postgraduate
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
480 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-11536-6 (9781041115366)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€73.99
Available for download

E-Book
09/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€73.99
Available for download
Person
Leon Hugo was, at time of original publication, Professor in the Department of English at the University of South Africa.
Content
Preface. Part I: Philosopher 1. Social and Political Economy 2. The Life Force 3. Aesthetics and Ethics Part II: Dramatist 4. 1892-1901: Blue Books, 'New Women', and Dictators 5. 1901-1903: Man and Superman 6. 1904-1912: Wot Price Salvation? 7. 1913-1923: The Great Plays 8. 1929-1939: Dissolution Part III: Artist-Philosopher 9. Artist-Philosopher. Select Bibliography. Index.